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On the Steelers: For Le'Veon Bell, there will be no getting around two-game suspension
October 19, 2014
By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Le'Veon Bell leaves his preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Both the good and bad news for Le'Veon Bell and the Steelers is that he may indeed enter the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program after he was charged with driving under the influence.
The ARD was created years ago for first-time offenders of nonviolent crimes and once the program is completed, the accused has his record expunged.
That is, it is wiped off his criminal record. His standing with the NFL is another case.
Bell faces a two-game suspension by the NFL, even if he agrees to go into the ARD program and his legal record is expunged. The NFL considers any plea-bargain agreement - which is basically what ARD is - a conviction and under the new drug and alcohol policy passed this year, commissioner Roger Goodell can suspend Bell for two games.
A spokesman for the NFL acknowledged that a DUI, whether it's from alcohol or marijuana, is subject to the following:
"The commissioner will review and may impose a fine, suspension or other appropriate discipline if a player is convicted of or admits to a violation of the law (including within the context of a diversionary program, deferred adjudication, disposition of supervision or similar arrangement including but not limited to nolo contendere) relating to the use of alcohol" and, he subsequently clarified, marijuana.
The league's new drug policy carries a two-game suspension upon a conviction or plea agreement for a DUI. The league wanted to be able to discipline a player immediately upon his arrest for DUI, but the NFL Players Association would not agree to that. Thus, unless Bell comes to a plea agreement before this season ends, he would not face a suspension until next season, most likely the first two games.
Bell leads the AFC with 542 yards rushing.
[URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/10/19/On-the-Steelers-For-Le-Veon-Bell-there-will-be-no-getting-around-two-game-suspension/stories/201410190169[/URL]
October 19, 2014
By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Le'Veon Bell leaves his preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Both the good and bad news for Le'Veon Bell and the Steelers is that he may indeed enter the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program after he was charged with driving under the influence.
The ARD was created years ago for first-time offenders of nonviolent crimes and once the program is completed, the accused has his record expunged.
That is, it is wiped off his criminal record. His standing with the NFL is another case.
Bell faces a two-game suspension by the NFL, even if he agrees to go into the ARD program and his legal record is expunged. The NFL considers any plea-bargain agreement - which is basically what ARD is - a conviction and under the new drug and alcohol policy passed this year, commissioner Roger Goodell can suspend Bell for two games.
A spokesman for the NFL acknowledged that a DUI, whether it's from alcohol or marijuana, is subject to the following:
"The commissioner will review and may impose a fine, suspension or other appropriate discipline if a player is convicted of or admits to a violation of the law (including within the context of a diversionary program, deferred adjudication, disposition of supervision or similar arrangement including but not limited to nolo contendere) relating to the use of alcohol" and, he subsequently clarified, marijuana.
The league's new drug policy carries a two-game suspension upon a conviction or plea agreement for a DUI. The league wanted to be able to discipline a player immediately upon his arrest for DUI, but the NFL Players Association would not agree to that. Thus, unless Bell comes to a plea agreement before this season ends, he would not face a suspension until next season, most likely the first two games.
Bell leads the AFC with 542 yards rushing.
[URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/10/19/On-the-Steelers-For-Le-Veon-Bell-there-will-be-no-getting-around-two-game-suspension/stories/201410190169[/URL]
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